Getting involved on campus and in your community can be one of the most important things you can do to improve your leadership skills. It is not only important to learn about leadership skills but it is also important to practice those skills. Participating in groups helps you learn how to plan events and how to work with people that are different than you. There are many opportunities available both on campus and in your community so you should be able to find something that interests you.

Campus Involvement

Participating in recognized campus organizations is a great way to meet people and gain experience while developing your leadership skills. Campuses have many opportunities for student involvement. Below are some examples of what your school may offer. Check out the resources at your school to learn what specific options are available.

Clubs and Organizations

Most campuses have many recognized student groups called organizations or clubs. These groups are run by students with the help of campus professionals. Being involved with a campus student group is a good way to meet people, learn how to coordinate events and you may have a chance to take on an officer position. You should choose a group that you are interested in and challenge yourself to be an active participant.

Community Involvement

You can also gain valuable leadership experience by getting involved with community organizations as a participant or volunteer. When looking at options, you may want to consider a few questions to help lead you to a great opportunity:

What are you interested in?

What future career are you looking to pursue?

What do you value?

The answers to these questions can guide you as you start to explore the organizations in your community. Community involvement can have many benefits - meeting new people, developing new skills, exploring a field that you may want to work in, and having fun. Do not be afraid to challenge yourself and try something new.

Community Clubs and Organizations

In local communities, there are often a variety of organizations open to the public. These groups have many different interests and goals. Some are social while others are more business-like. There are many types of organizations: social, sports/recreation, family, political, arts, nature, religious, etc. Here are some examples of national organizations that may be available in your community.

"One useful definition of civic engagement is the following: individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern. Civic engagement can take many forms, from individual voluntarism to organizational involvement to electoral participation. It can include efforts to directly address an issue, work with others in a community to solve a problem or interact with the institutions of representative democracy."

The government of this country was founded on the idea that informed citizens would be involved in selecting our leaders to create our laws. Civic engagement includes the responsibility to remain informed about the important issues which impact these decisions and understand our rights as citizens. This section includes resources on how you can participate more in this process. It also includes resources on becoming a citizen and information for others who reside in the country.